Expect a massive petrol price increase in April, warns AA

Revised fuel taxes become applicable in April and will account for 20 cents per litre.

Flag of South Africa on the car's fuel tank filler flap. Fueling car with petrol pump at a gas station. Petrol station. Gasoline and oil products. Close up - Photo: File

A massive petrol price increase is expected to hit South Africa in April, says the Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa.

It’s not an April fool’s day prediction; the petrol price
will be going up again next month. While consecutive fuel hikes have become the
beleaguered norm in South Africa, April’s looming rise is expected to wreak havoc
on motorists and consumers alike.

Double trouble for South African motorists

As explained by the AA, the country was already facing a petrol price increase, in part, due to the weakening rand and the rising cost of crude oil. While these factors are bad enough on their own, the introduction of revised fuel levies, attached to the pumps from April onwards, is set to push South Africa beyond the threshold of reasonability.

Studying mid-month data released by the Central Energy Fund (CEF), the AA issued a foreboding statement on Friday afternoon. Dulling the weekend’s glimmer, the AA stated:

“The projected basic fuel price increase is being billed as 98 cents for petrol, 70 cents for diesel and 63 cents for illuminating paraffin. But, increases to the fuel levies will push the prices at the pumps even higher when they come into effect in April.”

It’s estimated that the price of petrol will increase by R1.18 a litre, with diesel increasing by 90 cents a litre. The largest single petrol price increase in recent years was experienced back in 2015, when the petrol price increased by a whopping R1.62. In 2018, the price of petrol rose by R1 per litre in November – putting the price per litre at a record-breaking R17.08.

Estimated petrol price in South Africa for March 2019

Inland:

Petrol per litre – R15.78

Diesel per litre – R14.90

Coastal

Petrol per litre – R15.60

Diesel – R14.48

Revised fuel taxes become applicable in April and will account for 20 cents per litre – approximately 38% of the total cost per litre. With 30% of that levy going towards the defunct Road Accident Fund (RAF), South African motorists have been left embittered and financially embattled.